Revelation, 5 January 1833

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

Single leaf, measuring 7¼ × 7⅝ inches (18 × 19 cm). The left and top edges of the recto leaf have the square cut of manufactured paper. The right edge of the recto is unevenly torn, and the bottom edge is unevenly cut. This suggests the leaf was torn from a bound volume and cut to size. The revelation was folded for filing and docketed by

: “Revelati[o]n | for Farm”. Later, a notation was inscribed in purple ink across the folds on the unfolded verso. This notation is in the handwriting of Historian’s Office clerk Robert Campbell and is signed by Williams’s son, Ezra Williams, in the same ink: “Hand writing of | F. G. Williams my Father | E G Williams”.

The custodial history of this document is uncertain. It was included in a collection of financial documents that

Although the Campbell notation and Ezra Williams’s signature are undated, other Frederick G. Williams papers with Campbell notations and Ezra Williams signatures are dated April 1864, suggesting institutional custody of the revelation since that time.

The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...

his farm, bears the date “Januery 5 1834.” Two versions of the revelation exist: the one featured here is in the handwriting of Williams (perhaps the original inscription), and the other is in the handwriting of

10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...

Both versions give the year of the revelation as 1834. However, the inscription “1834” on the Williams copy is in a script that differs considerably from the month and date that precede it and from the body of the revelation. The year is written in a cursive script—entirely inscribed with a continuous and unbroken line—that does not resemble other “1834” inscriptions or any of the other year inscriptions found in the collection of Williams papers of which the revelation manuscript is part.

Within the Frederick G. Williams Papers, this revelation appeared among other financial documents covering Williams’s lifespan and his probate. A retrospective financial statement found in Williams’s papers mentions that financial statements were prepared in January 1836. The statement contains financial records related to the revelation manuscript and other documents in the collection. Other retrospective financial statements in the collection refer to both the Williams farm and his work as a scribe. (See Frederick G. Williams, Papers, CHL.)

Some of these other documents show signs of uncertainty about the years in which certain financial arrangements were made. In one document “1835” was revised to “1836,” while in another “1836” was revised to “1837.”

These ambiguities bring into question the certainty of the present document’s dating to the year 1834, which in turn necessitates a reconsideration of the historical context of the revelation’s content.

In most respects, the revelation fits an 1833 context much better than an 1834 context. First, it referenced the need for JS to do the “work of translation.” JS began revising the Bible in 1830 and finished in July 1833.

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

to be a “councillor & scribe” to JS, which also implies an 1833 date. Williams may have begun writing for JS in an informal capacity as early as February or March 1832 and was formally “employed to be a scribe” in July 1832.

Ca. 1784–ca. Sept. 1836. Schoolteacher. Born at East Marlborough, Chester Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Gause (Goss) and Mary Beverly. Joined Society of Friends (Quakers), 1806. Moved to Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, 1808; to Chester Co., 1811; and to Wilmington...

An organization that supervised the management of church enterprises and properties from 1832 to 1834. In March and April 1832, revelations directed that the church’s publishing and mercantile endeavors be organized. In accordance with this direction, the...

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

Authority or knowledge of God given to humankind. In the earliest records, the term keys primarily referred to JS’s authority to unlock the “mysteries of the kingdom.” Early revelations declared that both JS and Oliver Cowdery held the keys to bring forth...

Both the office of the president of the high priesthood and the body comprising the president and his counselors; the presiding body of the church. In November 1831, a revelation directed the appointment of a president of the high priesthood. The individual...

to consecrate his farm for the “bringing forth of the revelations.” Although obtaining means for printing the revelations was a manifest concern in an 11 January 1834 prayer offered by JS and others, a 25 June 1833 letter sent by JS and other leaders indicates there was also concern at that earlier time about how to acquire binding materials for the planned Book of Commandments.

A revelation commanding Williams to consecrate his farm to help in “bringing forth of the revelations” could therefore make sense in either 1833 or 1834, though 1833 is more likely. Williams had obtained this farm, consisting of 144 acres, in the winter of 1829–1830 through a land exchange with Isaac Moore.

One who managed property and goods under the law of consecration; also someone given a specific ecclesiastical responsibility. According to the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” members of the church were to make donations to the bishop, who would record the...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

Also referred to as New Jerusalem. JS revelation, dated Sept. 1830, prophesied that “city of Zion” would be built among Lamanites (American Indians). JS directed Oliver Cowdery and other missionaries preaching among American Indians in Missouri to find location...

Because the church likely would not have planned in summer 1833 to build on Williams’s land if he had not already consecrated it, and because the revelation commanded Williams to consecrate his land, the Kirtland plat is further evidence that January 1833 is the most likely date for this revelation.

, who was serving as a scribe, probably inscribed this revelation when it was dictated. The revelation was addressed to him and given in response to his desire to know God’s will concerning him. The Williams copy of the revelation was hastily inscribed on a scrap of unlined paper—suggesting that it may be the original manuscript, taken down at the time JS dictated the text. Williams retained the text of the revelation, and it appears among a collection of his personal papers.

Within the Frederick G. Williams Papers, this revelation appeared among other financial documents covering Williams’s lifespan and his probate. A retrospective financial statement found in Williams’s papers mentions that financial statements were prepared in January 1836. The statement contains financial records related to the revelation manuscript and other documents in the collection. Other retrospective financial statements in the collection refer to both the Williams farm and his work as a scribe. (See Frederick G. Williams, Papers, CHL.)

thou hast desired of me to know which would be the most worth unto you, behold blessed art tho[u] for this thing. now I say unto you, my Servant Joseph is called to do a great work and hath need that he may do the work of

To produce a text from one written in another language; in JS’s usage, most often through divine means. JS considered the ability to translate to be a gift of the spirit, like the gift of interpreting tongues. He recounted that he translated “reformed Egyptian...

The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...

thou hast desired of me to know which would be the most worth unto you, behold blessed art thou for this thing. now I say unto you, my Servant Joseph is called to do a great work and hath need that he may do the work of

To produce a text from one written in another language; in JS’s usage, most often through divine means. JS considered the ability to translate to be a gift of the spirit, like the gift of interpreting tongues. He recounted that he translated “reformed Egyptian...

The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...